Day two...

So, I bet you thought all the excitement would be limited to the first day of school. Well, you clearly don't know my children very well! Let's see, it started last night with Dom coming into our room about 4 times claiming he had a bad dream. (This has been going on for a week or so and we are trying really hard to break him of the habit.) So, needless to say, he was exhausted even before he woke up! But, he did wake up ready to go to school, that is until he realized that daddy would not be taking him to school like he does Anthony. Now, this was our mistake, since last year we kept telling him that once he started school he could ride with Anthony in daddy's car. What we failed to take into consideration was that they would go to different schools for a year! So, there were many tears as daddy drove away with Anthony. To make up for my mistake I let Dom play Wii for a bit this morning before we left. Yet another mistake on my part. When I told him it was time to go he lost it!! But, he rebounds quickly and once we were on the way to school he got excited again and was ready for his day.

That leads me to Nicolas. I knew the transition to both brothers being at school would cause a little strain on him, but you would think he was having his toenails ripped out every 5 minutes! He will be playing fine or we will be doing something like building with blocks and then all of a sudden he throws himself on the ground face first and screams! He did this at Dom's school while we waited for the bell. So, I am trying to make it easier, playing games, giving him some extra snacks to take his mind off how lonely he is. I am watching a friend's daughter this morning, which is kind of helping, otherwise I would have taken him somewhere like the park, but I have a feeling it wouldn't be much different there either. He would just realize that his brothers aren't there and want to sit by me the entire time. So, I guess we have a few weeks of adjusting to go through before we are all on "school year" time. I am looking forward to me time with just Nicolas and I hope he gets used to being an only child for a few hours a day. But at the same time it warms my heart how much my boys love each other.

Hopefully day 3 will be quieter.

First day of school

Today is the first day of school for both Anthony and Dominic. It was a busy morning; up at 6:30, breakfast for everyone (don't forget the coffee for mom and dad), get everyone dressed, pack lunches, pack backpacks, load the car, off we go!! Anthony was first and he was so excited! He couldn't wait to see who was in his class this year from last year and to meet his new teacher. He is in a bungalow this year, for those of you unfamiliar, it is like a adjunct classroom. They use trailers, like on construction sites. He was super excited to be in a bungalow! So, we waited for the teacher, lined up, and said goodbye. Then it was off to Dom's school. There was a lot of waiting around since we got there super early, but that was fine. Joe had never been to the school before so he was able to look around and check things out. Dom was so excited he couldn't keep still! He waited in line so well, though, once he was asked. Then it was kisses and hugs for him and in he went, his first day of real school! I am so proud of them both and excited for the year ahead and the things they will learn and the friends they will make. So now Nico and I are sitting in the kitchen talking about what to do today. He apparently wants crackers, so, that is easy. I on the other hand need to find something to distract me from the immense quiet that now surrounds me! My little boys are growing up and I am so happy about that, but today I am feeling a little lonesome for my guys. Enjoy the pics.

Some thoughts on my life

33-that is how old I am. Well, 33 and a little more than half at this point. So, I am no spring chicken. But I am also not over the hill, at least I don't think so. Is 30 the new 20 or the new 40? I can't keep track. At any rate, us generation x-ers are kind of caught in a strange spot, at least a lot of the ones I know and talk to. Yes, of course there are plenty of us who are right where we wanted to be at this point; doctors, lawyers, pastors, teachers, etc. But there are plenty of us who either graduated and got our MRS degrees and then had children or who continued on with school and are now graduating with masters and PhDs with very few options for employment in the current climate. I am one of those MRS and children folks, and don't get me wrong, I would not change the path I took for anything, but I often wonder where I would be and what I would be doing had I not gotten married right out of college. And that gets me wondering what I would do if I could go back to work right now. I am not all that qualified for anything. I have a BA in English Lit. So, I can read and write and talk to you until I am blue in the face about themes and under currents in various classic novels or bring you up to speed on Dante's Inferno. Know anyone who is hiring with those criteria? I didn't think so. I have done clerical work and my last job was actually pretty cool, some technical writing and other things, but again, that was almost 7 years ago!! Ugh, who would hire me now? That gets me thinking about going back to school. But of course several questions come up; what would I study and how would I pay for it? It is one thing to be a stay at home mom with a wonderful husband who works so hard so I can be with the kids during these formative years, but it is quite another to be a stay at home mom who then has to take classes when she has time all the while asking more from her husband who already works like a dog! We could make it work, I know that, but is that a stress I want to add to our lives right now? Not really. Plus there is the whole issue of what would I study? My immediate inclination is to study something recession proof, like medical transcription or pharmacy tech, but those don't make me stand up and yell "woohoo!" when I talk about them. So then I think, what do I want to do? And that is where I get stumped. I don't know. I would love to be a photographer, but that is a slow and expensive career to pursue and it will cost me in the beginning and who knows if I will ever make enough money for it to be worthwhile! I love creating things and sewing and crocheting, but those don't pull in the big bucks either. Not that I want big bucks, it would just be nice to have regular bucks, even just a few.

So I get to this point in my thinking and realize that a small finger has been poking my leg for who knows how long and a small voice has been saying "mommy, guess what?" who knows how many times and I am reminded of where my priorities and my heart are at the moment. I look down to see my two year old with that gleem in his eye, he wants to tell me a knock knock joke. He usually makes them up, something like "knock, knock" (who's there) "I love you" (I love you who?) "I love you, get outta here!" Then he throws his head back and says "ohhhh" and laughs. Then I hear my older two upstairs playing with legos, building, taking apart, and rebuliding their new Lego Star Wars ships. They are laughing and pretending and I can't help but smile. Now don't get me wrong, my days are not all knock knock jokes and brotherly love. It is about 50/50 with the niceness and the constant bickering and whining. Like right now they are arguing about, I am not really even sure, but there is a lot of "what do you think you are doing" and " I'm telling mommy!" Luckily the two year old is napping, but that didn't come easy either. Some days I feel like I really have a handle on this parenting thing, and especially the stay at home mom thing. Some days, not so much. Some days I realize they have been watching TV for 47 hours and haven't eaten one fruit or vegetable and haven't been bathed for days. Other days we have been to the museum and the grocery store all before lunch and the two year old goes down for a nap with a new diaper! Those are good days, and they don't happen regularly. I feel like a terrible mom on the days when we don't do anything, just stay at home, but at the same time, what mom can do something or plan something every single day?! Well, I know they are out there, but I am not one of them. Things will change once school starts and there is less time for TV and video games and that will be a welcome change for all of us. But I have to keep reminding myself that I am not perfect. But I also think I am a pretty good mom. For instance, today was Dom's orientation for his pre-kindergarten. It was a lot sitting around in the heat listening to grown-ups talk about things that could have easily been printed on a sheet and handed out. Dom kept whispering to me "I'm bored." I would whisper back "me too, but we need to listen for just a few more minutes." He sat so nicely, albeit making some pretty hilarious bored faces. Then we went to the classroom and the teacher asked all the kids to sit on the rainbow rug while she pointed out the different areas in the room. Immediately a groups of mostly boys started kicking each other and taking things off shelves and making a lot of noise. I looked around, expecting one of them to be Dom, but instead he was sitting quietly, with his bored face on, waiting for the teacher to finish talking. I was so proud. I kept waiting for the parents of the loud boys to step in, but they didn't. The teacher finally asked them to settle down and they sort of listened. It occurred to me that if nothing else, I am raising children who know how to behave in a classroom and around other adults and children. At least I hope so. That's not to say they won't act up or get in trouble, that is part of being a kid, and especially being a boy, but for the most part I think even with PJ and TV days notwithstanding, they are turning out pretty great. I might be biased, but I might also be right. So, when I think about what I want to do, I have to admit, I am doing it. It isn't always easy and I don't always feel like doing it and of course I complain, but who doesn't about their job? Ok, maybe the Pope, but you never know. I have been blessed with an amazing family, the most wonderful husband, the coolest kids, and the knowledge that what I am doing now does mean something. I am preparing my children to one day be productive, responsible citizens. At least they will be able to sit still and listen in class, which is more than I can say for a lot of the kids out there. I just hope I can remember this at 4:30 pm today when all three are whining about being hungry, there are toys EVERYWHERE, and all I want is to lay down and rest. I will let you know.

More wedding pics

Just a few more pics from the wedding. Not sure if editing them or taking them is more fun!

My first wedding shoot!

Hey all. I just did my first wedding shoot this past weekend and wanted to share a few of my pics. They are in no particular order as I am still editing and organizing them. I had so much fun and learned alot. These were friends of ours and they were so gracious to let me get my sea legs so to speak at their wonderful wedding! I just might be able to do this again! Enjoy!

It's August already?!

I can hardly believe how fast the summer has flown by. I feel like just yesterday Anthony had his last day of kindergarten and we were making plans for what we would do during his time off. Well, we have done plenty it seems and while I feel like I could use three more months of summer, I am also really excited about the school year ahead and what it will be like having a first grader! Yes, my first born is going to be in first grade, he is going to be SEVEN on September 16th! It is so hard to believe. But the saying does hold true, time really does fly.

Perhaps the best part of the summer has been watching the all three boys really bond and become friends. Nicolas is finally at an age where he can, sort of, play with his big brothers and whether he is actually participating or not, he tries his hardest to join in with their games. Anthony is always ready to let him play and is so patient and kind to his little bro. Dom is just happy to have another kid to rough house with, and Nico is definitely the one for the job! Anthony tends to shy away from games like that but Nico joins right in and I fear that in not too many years he will be pass both is brothers in height and weight! I am already preparing myself for the fact that he will most likely be on the football team as some sort of linebacker. The kid is made of bricks, I swear!

So far this summer we have been to Bakersfield twice ( I am there now as a matter of fact), I have gone to Pittsburgh to see old friends, Joe has gone to Austin for his yearly trade show, and we have made numerous trips to the beach which has been so fun! Grandma Pat will be coming at the end of the month for a couple weeks as well. It is so wonderful to spend time wtih family. I hope you all know that our home is always open should you need a getaway! We love having company. The older boys are little fish this year and I think next year we will finally have all three really swimming and we can start trying new things like boogie boarding and surfing. I can't wait!

As they grow the things they think and say get better and better. Anthony is still a sponge and is so eager to learn new things. He is also learning some tougher lessons as well and while there have been some tough times in this ragard, he is becoming such a young man. Learning that your actions have consequences is HUGE and he is starting to really understand the concept.

Dom is, well, Dom is something else. I have heard many times this trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house how much he reminds Grandma Janis of Joey at the same age. Full of energy and lacking in common sense much of the time. But his smile and sweet words make up for it most of the time. Dom is always quick to complement your outfit or tell you he loves you with no prompting. He lives by emotion and sometimes this is great and sometimes I am cringing wondering if we will soon be making a trip to the emergency room.

Nicolas continues to make us laugh at every turn. His new favorite thing is singing the Speed Racer theme song. I have a video I will post soon of all three singing and it is hilarious! But he still loves his guitar and singing songs and watching Looney Tunes (that is what we are doing right now as a matter of fact) and pretending to read his books. His vocabulary grows daily which is so much fun. It is a whole new world when your child can finally communicate with you and you can understand them! No more guessing what he is trying to say.

Joe's business is going well despite the economy. There are always lean times when you own your own company but he and his partner have built such a great company that it will be tough for them to fail. They have a great group of employees who are dedicated and loyal, so loyal that recently they all agreed to go unpaid for two weeks to save expenses!! Happily everyone is back to work full time and there is more work than employees!! That is the kind of problem you want to have.

Well, I hope I have caught you all up enough. We love you all!

What the kids are saying

Well, I am sure I will forget most of the awesome things my kids have sad recently, but I will try to recount as much as I can.

Going in order from most recent :

1. While playing with his little friend Maddy (a girl) Dom said, "Let's play dinosaurs!" Maddy replied "Yeah!" So Dom started walking like a raptor with claws and teeth out, and Maddy started prancing like a princess. Now the game has turned into "house" with dinosaurs with Dom as the baby dinosaur.

2. When sitting down to lunch with said princess dinosaur Dom said "I want to sit by Maddy because she is beautiful."

3. All three boys LOVE Looney Tunes and watch them all the time. Nicolas is especially a fan and quotes it all the time. He will randomly say "rabbit season rabbit season!" or "you're dispicable (of course he doesn't get that quite right which makes it so much funnier)".

4. The other day I was telling the boys who were upstairs at the time that they needed to be cleaning their room. I was standing downstairs near the banister. Nico stood next to me and just yelled and repeated everything I said. Then about 5 minutes after I had left that spot he went back and told the boys a few more things he wanted them to do. He ended his request with "ok?" yelled as loudly as he could.

5. Nico has started calling me "mom" for some reason, so when he does that I say "I'm mommy" to which he quickly replies "I'm Nikki!"

That is all I can remember at the moment. Hope they made you smile.